Eight charged with murder of miner

Georgetown: Eight persons were charged Tuesday with the murder of gold miner, Deon Stoll who died following a shootout with bandits during an attempted robbery on Da Silva Street, Newtown, Kitty, on Monday, October 14.

Stoll, called “Mow”, 44, of Charity, Essequibo Coast, Region Two and Barima Avenue, Bel Air, Georgetown was pronounced dead at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Those charged were: Shane ‘Demon’ Morgan called ‘Dellon’ , a 33-year-old graphic artist of East La Penitence: Roberto Sankar, a 28-year-old businessman of Pigeon Island, East Coast Demerara, Wayne St Hill, 38-year-old graphic artist of Dowding Street, Kitty; Steve Rollox,a 38-year-old taxi driver of Peter’s Hall, East Bank Demerara, Odessa St Hill,a 37-year-old graphic artist of Delph Street, Campbellville; Doctor Alonzo Dos Santos, a 33-year-old who is a second lieutenant in the Guyana Defence Force, of Prospect,East Bank Demerara; Duncan Vanveild, 36-year-old welder of ‘B’ Field Sophia and Keith Mc Kenzie, a taxi driver of East La Penitence.

The accused were remanded to prison until November 15, 2019.

Enquiries revealed that Stoll and his driver had earlier visited a business place on Sheriff Street and did a business transaction where they collected a sum of cash, after which they proceeded in a Toyota Carina 212 car, PPP 7227, to El Dorado Trading at 63 Da Silva Street, Kitty, to conduct another transaction.

Charged: Businessman, Wayne St Hill

They were apparently trailed by the bandits’ car. As soon as the gold miner pulled over at the gold dealership, the bandits’ car also pulled up and the two bandits exited the car, wearing caps with their faces partially covered with handkerchiefs.

One of the bandits, who was armed with a knife, approached the driver while the other approached the businessman with a handgun. Reports further indicated that the robber with the knife ordered the driver to get out the car, while the other bandit told the businessman not to draw his firearm. The driver then pushed the car door towards the bandit with the knife and came out of the car and was pushing the bandit away.

As a result, the bandit with the gun shot the driver to his right hand between the elbow and shoulder. The businessman then drew his licensed firearm and he and the bandit with the gun had a shootout.

Charged: Dr. Alonzo De Santos

During the shootout, the businessman received a gunshot injury to the right side pelvis. The bandit, who was also shot, ran away and joined the car with his accomplice, and they made good their escape.

Meanwhile, the security guard of El Dorado Trading, 40-year-old Rory Deegs, who was armed with a pistol, opened the gate of the business to see what was going on, when it was alleged that the businessman, in a panic, discharged two rounds into his direction and he received injuries to the right hand.

The Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) has since called for justice regarding the brutal slaying of Stoll.

The other four who were slapped with accessory to murder were Odetta St. Hill, Duncan Vanderfield, taxi driver Keith McKenzie and Dr. Alanzo De Santos.

Dr. DeSantos was arrested after it was discovered that he had treated the injured bandits at a private house in Sophia. Odetta St. Hill is the sister of Dwayne St. Hill who is facing the murder charge.

All eight of those appearing in Court were remanded to jail after not being required to enter a plea to the indictable charges.

The Attorneys for those charged with accessory to murder applied for bail but their pleas were denied.